Definitions
- Referring to an animal that has wandered away from its owner or home. - Talking about a person who has gone off course or deviated from a plan or goal. - Describing something that is out of place or not where it should be.
- Referring to something that moves slowly and steadily in a particular direction, such as a boat or snow. - Talking about a gradual change or shift in attitude, opinion, or behavior. - Describing a lack of direction or purpose, often due to external factors.
List of Similarities
- 1Both words describe movement or change from a previous position or state.
- 2Both words can refer to physical objects or abstract concepts.
- 3Both words can have negative connotations, such as being lost or lacking direction.
- 4Both words can be used as verbs or adjectives.
What is the difference?
- 1Direction: Stray implies moving away from a specific point or location, while drift suggests moving in a general direction without a specific goal or destination.
- 2Cause: Stray often implies a deliberate or accidental deviation from a set path or plan, while drift can suggest a more gradual or natural change.
- 3Speed: Stray can imply a sudden or abrupt change, while drift suggests a slower, more gradual movement.
- 4Focus: Stray emphasizes being off course or out of place, while drift emphasizes a lack of direction or purpose.
- 5Usage: Stray is more commonly used to describe animals or people, while drift is more commonly used to describe objects or abstract concepts.
Remember this!
Stray and drift are synonyms that both describe movement or change from a previous position or state. However, the difference between stray and drift is their direction, cause, speed, focus, and usage. Stray implies moving away from a specific point or location, often due to a deliberate or accidental deviation from a set path or plan. Drift suggests moving in a general direction without a specific goal or destination, often due to a gradual or natural change, and emphasizes a lack of direction or purpose.
